Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Dads make a difference: an exploratory study of paternal support for breastfeeding in Perth, Western Australia

    160583_15482_PUB-HEA-SPH-CD-53099-1.pdf (238.3Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Tohotoa, Jenny
    Maycock, Bruce
    Hauck, Yvonne
    Howat, Peter
    Burns, Sharyn
    Binns, Colin
    Date
    2009
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Tohotoa, Jenny and Maycock, Bruce and Hauck, Yvonne and Howat, Peter and Burns, Sharyn and Binns, Colin. 2009. Dads make a difference: an exploratory study of paternal support for breastfeeding in Perth, Western Australia. International Breastfeeding Journal. 4 (15).
    Source Title
    International Breastfeeding Journal
    DOI
    10.1186/1746-4358-4-15
    ISSN
    17464358
    School
    School of Public Health
    Remarks

    This article is published under the Open Access publishing model and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Please refer to the licence to obtain terms for any further reuse or distribution of this work.

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/8852
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Background: The ability to breastfeed and continue the practice requires dedication,commitment, persistence and support. Mothers often need to overcome many obstacles tosuccessfully breastfeed their babies and maintain their balance of home, family and workcommitments. Evidence suggests that fathers want to be involved and be part of the parenthoodprocess, including infant feeding. The role transition from couple to family poses challenges to bothparents. Sharing the experience of childbirth and supporting each other in the subsequent infantfeeding practices is one of those challenges.Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was chosen to identify parents' perceptions of whatconstitutes support for breastfeeding, particularly focusing upon paternal support. Focus groupswere conducted with mothers and a focus group, interviews and an online survey were developedfor fathers. Thematic analysis was used to identify the main themes.Results: From a total of 76 participants, the major theme emerging from mothers' data identifiedthat "Dads do make a difference". Three sub-themes included: Anticipating needs and getting thejob done; Encouragement to do your best; and Paternal determination and commitment, associatedwith effective partner support. "Wanting to be involved" was identified from fathers' data as themajor theme around their needs. Three sub-themes included: Wanting more information; Learningthe role; and Being an advocate.Conclusion: Sharing the experience of childbirth and supporting each other in the subsequentinfant feeding practices was perceived as the best outcome for the majority of new mothers andfathers. Paternal emotional, practical and physical supports were identified as important factors topromote successful breastfeeding and to enrich the experience for the mother and subsequentlythe father.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Breastfeeding and health outcomes in infants who receive continuing care from hospitals or community health centres in Chengdu Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
      Yu, Chuan (2013)
      Introduction. The child health is one of the most important indicators of population health and the development of society. The health of children in China has improved in the past decades. The child health care system ...
    • Children and the Fly-in/Fly-out lifestyle : employment-related paternal absence and the implications for children
      Bradbury, Greer Susan (2011)
      There has been growing interest in the implications of paternal fly-in/fly-out employment (FIFO) for families and children. The current research had a dual aim, first to investigate children’s well-being in relation to ...
    • Process evaluation of a peer-led antenatal breastfeeding class for fathers: perceptions of facilitators and participants
      Kuliukas, Lesley; Hauck, Yvonne; Jorgensen, A.; Kneebone, K.; Burns, Sharyn; Maycock, B.; Scott, Jane (2019)
      Background: The Parent Infant Feeding Initiative (PIFI) was a factorial, randomised controlled trial that aimed to prolong exclusive breastfeeding by targeting expecting fathers. One of the intervention strategies evaluated ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.